Although the focus of this blog advocacy of vitamin C in reversing heart disease it would not be fair to discuss this essential nutrient without mentioning some of its documented immune system enhancing benefits. Basically, the human immune system defends against bacteria and viruses with a two part defense system that might be most aptly described as the “tag and bag” system. In the first part of this defense mechanism foreign invaders are first identified in the body by large protein molecules called antibodies. These antibodies recognize the bacteria or virus and bind to them chemically, leaving them marked or ‘tagged’ for further processing by the immune system. Leukocytes are amoeba-like cells in the body that recognize ‘tags’ or antibodies attached to these infectious agents. The second part of the defense system is for these cells to eat(phagocytosis) the microbe or ‘bag’ it.

Vitamin C has been shown to increase the production and effective function of both the ‘tags’(antbodies) and ‘bags’(leucocytes). In studies by Vallance(1977) it was demonstrated that increased intake of vitamin C increased the body’s synthesis of antibodies. This study was performed in isolation in Antarctica to eliminate the possibility of new infection and thereby isolate vitamin C as the only possible contributing factor in the production of antibodies. Test subjects were given 1 gram of vitamin C per day and the control groups were given placebos(sugar pills). In subjects given the vitamin C it was found that they had a significant increase in the production of several different types of antibodies. It has also been known for a long time that leukocytes cannot perform phagocytosis effectively without ample amounts of vitamin C. So essentially the ‘tagged’ invaders cannot be ‘bagged’ without sufficient vitamin C (Cottingham and Mills, 1943). Not only do leukocytes need vitamin C to function effectively but studies have also shown that increased levels of vitamin C enhance the production of leukocytes themselves(Yonemoto, Chretian, and Fehniger, 1976; Yonemoto, 1979) This evidence suggests that a higher intake of vitamin C increases both  the production of antibodies and leukocytes.  Also leukocytes cant function properly without it.

Irwin Stone(1972) has described the relationship between vitamin C and bacterial disease as such:

1. It is bactericidal or bacteriostatic and will kill or prevent the growth of the pathenogenic organisms.

2. It detoxifies and renders harmless the bacterial toxins and poisons.

3. It controls and maintains phagocytosis.

4. It is harmless and nontoxic and can be administered in the large doses needed to accomplish the above effects without harm to the patient.